OFFICIAL: Manchester United sign Ander Herrera

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Manchester United have completed their first signing of the summer after landing Atheltic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera.

A statement on United’s official website read, “Manchester United is delighted to announce that, after triggering the buy-out clause in his contract on Tuesday, it has signed Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Club in Bilbao, pending the receipt of the International Transfer Certificate. He joins on a four-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.”

Earlier we reported the 24-year-old midfielder has already completed his medical ahead of his move to Old Trafford. The Spain international has agreed to join the Red Devils on a four-year deal.

Herrera becomes incoming United manager Louis van Gaal’s first signing since agreeing terms to become David Moyes’ successor earlier in May. The former Red Devils’ manager was sacked in April this year.

There was a bit of controversy surrounding this deal, and at one stage, it looked like Manchester United have missed out on their target, after Athletic Bilbao officially announced that they have rejected United’s offer.

Bilbao later confirmed that player had the full buyout clause fee himself, to remove him from his own contract. Basically Manchester United have paid Herrera €36m, the move quite similar to that Javi Martinez’ transfer to Bayern Munich from Bilbao.

Moyes was keen on landing Bilbao star last summer and the negotiations were at the advance stages, only for the deal to collapse on the deadline day. After failing to land him 12 months ago, United, without the help of the former Everton boss have sealed a deal for Herrera this summer.